"In addition to the allurements common to all chess, correspondence chess has five values in its own right; it is chatty; it encourages reading, collateral to the game while in progress; it is likely to be accurate chess within one’s limitations, unimpaired by the excitements of face-to-face play; it does not absorb two men’s time while one man lucubrates; and finally, it gears into life as a servant of our leisure, filling the chinks of time between chores with enjoyable detachment".

— W. E. Napier

Thematic Tournaments

Most correspondence organizations offer thematic tournaments for their members. What is a thematic tournament? In a thematic tournament all participants play the same opening and usually the same variation of that opening. Usually each participant plays two games, one with White and one with Black, with each opponent.

Thematic tournaments are an ideal way to learn a new opening or test out innovations in your favorite lines. Different opening choices are available from different organizations, and the available thematic tournaments vary from month to month. Some of the available thematic tournaments are: an APCT e-mail Evans Gambit tournament; an ASPCC opening of the year and also a continuous thematic section with various openings. ICCF has the richest choice of openings with, among others, Morra Gambits, Latvian Gambits, Petroff Defenses, B80 Sicilians, Leningrad Dutches, Gruenfelds, Cochrane Attacks, Evans Gambits, and Marshall Gambits.

The Wilkes-Barre variation of the Two Knights Defense is a rare visitor to OTB chess. It is just too wild for mere mortals with a clock limiting their search for survival. In the following game, Black shows some of the poison associated with the Wilkes-Barre Variation.

TWO KNIGHTS' DEFENSE

C57

W: Westner

B: Ralph Brachtel (2380)

Wilkes-Barre Thematic, 1991

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5

This is the infamous Wilkes-Barre counter attack. Back in the early 30s, the Wilkes-Barre Chess Club discovered this surprising system and played many games with other clubs. The logic behind 4. ... Bc5 is simple and bloodthirsty: the attack belongs to the better developed side. By branding 4. Ng5 a "beginner’s move," moving a piece twice in the opening, Black prepares his own systematic attack on f2, backed up with an extra developing move or two. If a pawn or two, a rook, or even a few pieces go into the box, what does it matter when a king is at stake?

This has been considered White’s best since the 70s, but die hard Wilkes-Barre fanatics have found new ideas to rejuvenate Black’s attack. Black’s total investment in this position is one pawn, the f7-pawn. For this pawn, Black will have two attacking moves — ... Nd4 and ... Rf8. Black’s pieces will focus on White’s kingside. So, for a small amount of material, Black will have a large amount of attack. Is the Wilkes-Barre sound? This column will not attempt to answer this question. Is playing the Wilkes-Barre fun? You bet!

A key idea in this variation: the missing f-pawn offers Black’s queen a quick entrance to the kingside.

8. c3

This idea is critical to the whole variation. White must control his center before the Black pieces overwhelm the kingside. The king on e7 is a potential target that must be aimed at. If the center remains closed, Black’s kingside attack will become too strong. If the center is fluid, then the Black king will be a promising target.

8. ... Qh5 9. 0-0 d6 10. d4 Bb6 11. Bxc6

This is part of White’s plan when he plays 6. Bd5. By destroying the c6-knight, Black’s control of the center is weakened and the d5 bishop is not a target to be exchanged on d5, thus opening up the f-file for Black.

11. ... bxc6 12. dxe5 Nxe4 13. Qe2?

Here is the critical point in the game. Up to this move, White’s play has been thematic, keeping the central lines open since the Black king is exposed. By first playing 13. exd6+, White keeps his chances alive. Now White’s e5-pawn will shield the Black king.

13. ... d5 14. Nbd2 Ng5! 15. b3?

White allows the attack to slip through his fingers. Now the defense weakens. After 15. Nd4 Qxe2 16. Nxe2 Ba6 17. c4 dxc4 18. Nc3 Rad8, Black is for choice, but there is a lot of counterplay.

And how does White play this wild line? Check the next game for a demonstration that not all the attack belongs to Black.

Correspondence players with internet connections who are interested in international correspondence chess news are encouraged to check out http://www.chessmail.com. This site, maintained by Tim Harding, is an excellent source of information about both regular mail and e-mail tournaments. In addition, there are articles, game analysis, and correspondence game downloads .

Max Zavanelli is keeping international correspondence chess up to date. ICCF/US now has a new web page: www.iccfus.com, which is worth checking out.

Brian Newberry (Providence, RI) writes "It’s fascinating. I asked each of the players in my section how they are doing in their other games and they all report to varying degrees that they are winning or at least have a ‘winning advantage,’ or at the very least are still deadlocked. Imagine that!" Did Brian just happen to be paired with a nest of optimists? Perhaps readers can try their own survey. Let me know the results.

Readers with survey results, games, and items of interest to postal players should write to me at the address on the previous page. I would also be interested in doing a column on correspondence chess players and their libraries. If you are a postal player with an outstanding library, The Check Is in the Mail might like to spotlight your collection.

• Robert Sanders (Dallas, Texas) notes that, though he felt lost in the opening, he felt a strong desire to win this game. Consequently, he spent more time thinking during this game than any other game in his life.